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Goods receiving

The receiving module owns the entire logic of taking goods in from suppliers and internal senders — from the moment the cargo pulls up at the warehouse gate to the moment it sits in the storage zones and is ready for the next stage. It is one of the most critical areas of the warehouse: mistakes at receiving propagate to every downstream operation, so the module is built to minimise loss, speed up handling, and keep things transparent.

This page describes the client-side end-to-end receiving process — the full document workflow from creation to closure. For the short fact-registration procedure on the handheld terminal, see Receiving on PDT.

What the module supports​

Receiving against an order​

When the supplier announces the cargo in advance, the system expects it:

  • a receipt is created with the expected products and quantities;
  • the receiver on the terminal sees what is supposed to arrive and can quickly reconcile actuals against expectations;
  • the system flags discrepancies automatically — missing lines, overages, wrong product;
  • on completion a receipt report is produced with the full list of discrepancies.

Receiving without a prior order​

Sometimes goods arrive without a prior order (an emergency supply, a customer return, a transfer from another warehouse). In those cases the system lets the receiver create a receipt on the fly — the operator simply scans the goods, and the document is built up automatically from the facts.

Containers and pallets during receiving​

Large deliveries arrive in containers — pallets and cases. The system:

  • tracks received goods both as lines and as containers;
  • preserves nesting — for example, twelve cases on one pallet, twenty-four packs in each case;
  • preserves the link between a container and the supplier, the receiving date, and the lot — for downstream traceability.

Integration with quality control​

Quality control is an integral part of receiving. The module:

  • automatically triggers a quality check for product categories where it is mandatory;
  • lets the receiver raise a quality incident on the spot when they see damage at receiving time;
  • isolates suspect goods in quarantine zones until the check is finished.

Quality control during receiving is described in the Quality control phase.

Handoff to putaway​

Once receiving is done, the received goods need to be moved into the storage zones. The module supports:

  • manual cell assignment by the receiver or shift supervisor;
  • automatic placement against rules — the system suggests an optimal cell based on the goods' attributes, the warehouse load, and business rules;
  • splitting one receipt across several storage zones — for example, part straight into the pick zone and part to reserve storage.

Working with suppliers​

Receiving is integrated with the counterparties module — meaning:

  • the system knows which supplier the cargo is expected from and pre-fills the document fields automatically;
  • the history of every supplier's deliveries is preserved and available for analysis;
  • discrepancies and quality incidents accumulate per supplier, giving an objective view of their reliability.

Closing the receiving​

Once receiving is complete the system:

  • produces a final report with the actual quantities, discrepancies, and quality incidents recorded;
  • updates available warehouse stock;
  • triggers notifications for the parties involved (accounting, purchasing, the supplier in case of a claim);
  • pushes the data into external systems (ERP) when an integration is configured.

Business processes the module supports​

  • Receiving in the client app — the full end-to-end process in the client app. Details: Receiving in the client app.
  • Receiving on the PDT — a short fact-registration procedure in the handheld-terminal app. Details: Receiving on PDT.
  • Putaway — how goods move from the receiving zone into the right warehouse zones. Details: Putaway.

Value to the business​

  • Throughput. Scanning and automatic matching against expectations cut receiving time several times over.
  • Fewer hidden shortages. Every discrepancy is captured on the spot and documented, which gives a basis for a claim against the supplier.
  • Quality control from the start. Defective goods do not enter stock and do not reach the customer.
  • An objective supplier picture. Accumulated data on quality and punctuality lets the business make informed decisions about continuing the relationship.